Chapter Nine
After two days of intense Amish living and a day of sightseeing in the nearby town, everyone practically collapsed into their beds at the hotel. They were staying in a two-bedroom and sharing the beds.
“Well, it’s been two days. What are your thoughts, Hannah?” Patricia asked as they were all winding down and enjoying some cold sparkling water, snuggled under the blankets in the light of the lamps.
“Something’s changed,” Wendy shared. “You’ve been deep in thought all day long, and not even a good burger was able to elicit anything except a small smile from you. Something’s gotten your attention, and I don’t think it was just the fact that we found your relatives.”
As perceptive as she was, Hannah was shocked that Patricia hadn’t caught on to anything.
Wendy wasn’t usually the first person to note the changes.
Perhaps she was just acting out of sorts, and it was too easily picked up by everyone.
If that was the case, had they figured out what had been going through her head?
“I’ve… well, I’ve been thinking about staying behind.
That first night after dinner with John and Olivia, they pulled me aside and said that I’d always have a place there if I wanted to come visit,” Hannah admitted.
“But I don’t know how I’d get home from here.
I’d be more than willing to pay for my ticket if I have to.
I could afford at least that with what my father sent me for money for the summer to pay for groceries and such, and from odd jobs I’ve done. ”
“Well, summer’s only half over,” Patricia said as she turned to face Hannah a little better.
“What about this? I’ll pay for your flight home if you decide to leave before the summer is over or when it is, so you can get to school on time for the semester.
Anything later than that for reasons outside of emergencies or delays you couldn’t control, and you’re on your own. Does that sound fair?”
Hannah nodded.
“More than fair, considering this is already making you change a ticket last minute, Patricia,” she said. “Thank you.”
“You deserve a chance to be happy in life, too,” Patricia said.
“If you don’t have the money to make it happen, then I’m willing to help you make it there.
Within reason, of course. You’ve not asked to change our plans once since we got on this trip except to surprise us by paying here and there, which we all appreciate.
Consider it a thank you for not taking advantage of our kindness.
We have too many people who want to take advantage of the wealth our parents passed to us. ”
Hannah looked to Wendy and Jasmine, who both nodded. She often forgot that the three of them had grown up together and had made a pact to look out for each other, to keep them safe from those who would exploit their friendships to get their lives paid for.
“You’re all such great friends. Why would I ever do something to jeopardize our friendship?” Hannah asked, honestly confused. “The fact that you have money means nothing to me. It only means that I need to be considerate when I ask to change the plans because I’m not paying for them.”
Patricia smiled and hugged Hannah tightly.
“That’s not what we meant, and you know it,” she said with a bit of a laugh.
“If being here in Pennsylvania Amish country is where you want to be for the rest of the summer, I’ll happily change your ticket a thousand times to help you get here and back to school.
You deserve the chance to get to know your cousin and the life they lead, even if you wouldn’t get it normally. ”
“That means a lot to me. Thank you, all of you.” Hannah couldn’t hold back the little happy tears that were threatening.
She got up out of bed and walked into the bathroom to wipe her face. When she came back out, all three of her friends hugged her close and tight. Hannah smiled as she hugged them.
“We’ll take you back up to the community before we leave tomorrow,” Patricia said. “Is there anything you’d like us to do before we head back without you?”
“No. I think I’ll be all right. But I don’t know how much I’ll be able to text while I’m still here,” Hannah admitted.
“That’s all right,” Wendy said. “We know you’ll get in touch when you need to. And Patricia can get the ticket all set up for you now so that you can get it put into your calendar or write it down somewhere.”
Hannah nodded. That would be a perfect way to do it.
They set up her return ticket to the dorms and arranged to collect her from the airport upon arrival.
“And send us a list of things you’d like us to pick up for you to eat before you get to the dorm. We can grab the non-perishables before you arrive, and grab the perishables after getting you from the airport,” Patricia said.
“Thank you.”
With that all sorted out, everyone slowly drifted off to sleep. Hannah, in particular, drifted off with a smile on her face thanks to the generosity of her friends.